What the Musician Taught Me

It's 5pm, and I am sitting on a cafe patio alongside several others sipping and chatting and easing into the evening. Also on the patio is a musician. He is playing gently, sweetly, songs everybody knows a few words to.

But the people on the patio don't clap, say, do anything to acknowledge him. We sip and we chat, sip and chat.

I notice, though, that the musician's playing is no less gentle, no less sweet.

And I have to think that he would play the same way if we were a roaring crowd of thousands. He would pour all his heart had to pour into these songs.

When I leave the patio, I thank the musician. And it is a thank you for his songs.

And for showing me that sometimes courage is playing full and playing on no matter what the people on the patio say or do.

The Lightning Notes is funded by kind donors. If something here strikes you, I'd be grateful if you'd consider donating. Click to Donate!